Eat smart this Diwali!

The festive season has begun and the excitement sees no bounds. It began with Navratri and now its diwali.

With diwali comes outings, guests visit, dinner parties, etc..which are inevitable. More often than not we end up indulging in sweets and other sinful foods, and then feel guilty for all the wrong eating, which then makes us look for some easy and quick ways to shed off the extra kilos that we gain during this festive season. But, the unfortunate part is that we end up resorting to all wrong ways of shedding that extra weight which again has a YO-YO effect (bounce back).

I would love to share a few health tips with you which would help you stay away from this vicious cycle of: bingingà feeling guiltyà weight gainà wrong methods of losing weightà weight gainà feeling guilty again

Try this-

If you plan to go out, don’t go on an empty stomach. Eat a small snack before you head out. Choose snacks like boiled corn, mix veggie salad, a fruit bowl, sprouts, veggie soup, yogurt with crushed nuts, whole wheat bread sandwich, etc. This will keep you full and thereby prevent binging/over eating when you are

If one meal goes for a toss, make sure the rest of the meals are absolutely on track. E.g. If you have a dinner party planned, make sure your meals through the day (breakfast, lunch, snacking items) are very much balanced and healthier.

Sip water frequently throughout the day. It will keep you hydrated and will also satiate the false hunger.

Pick healthier desserts- Choose dry fruits/fruits/kheer/phirni/shrikhand (you can make it using hung curd)/dark chocolates/til or peanut chikkis/dink laddoos (gum arabic)/ sheera/ date rolls/ date-walnut mithai, etc. over any other sugar loaded sweets. Sweets made out of jaggery or organic honey are good to go. Remember, we need to take care of the portions too.

Choose baked food items over deep fried ones.

Compensate- It’s true that saying “NO” when you are offered sweets by your loved ones especially during this festive season is going to be difficult. Don’t worry! Pick one, eat it mindfully and enjoy the eating experience. Now you know what to do next. Compensate for your extra caloric intake in your following meals. More fiber (salads, veggies), good amount of proteins and lesser carbs.

Go easy on alcohol. It’s a major dehydrator and contains empty calories. Choose red wine or vodka over any other hard drinks. Sangria would be the best option here (cut fruits in red wine).

Fire crackers are going to pollute the air. The pollutants (free radicals) have an easy access into our body as we breathe. Neutralize the free radicals by consuming adequate antioxidants through colourful fruits, berries and vegetables.

Last but not the least, don’t forget to work out! Workouts would kick your body metabolism in high gear, helping you burn calories faster. It’s best to get your workout done before going out for a party. The spiked metabolism would help you burn better when you eat at the party.

Enjoy the festival, stay mindful throughout and have a great time! Happy Diwali Folks!!

About Shimpli Patil

She is passionate about Nutrition and that explains Shimpli’s Master’s degree in Foods, Nutrition and Dietetics. This topper from Mumbai University also has a certification in Food Processing and Preservation and in Nutrition and Exercise for Fitness. That’s not all; she has a keen interest in the area of product development and has worked on the development of protein fortified chocolates in collaboration with Cadbury India Pvt Ltd, as a part of MSc. RnD. For over 3 years now she has been practicing as a clinical nutrition consultant. Shimpli is also a trained dancer from Shiamak Davar Institute of Performing Arts and strongly believes that dance is the best exercise for Mind and Body and when dance is combined with the right nutrition it is the correct recipe for a healthier and fitter lifestyle.

2 years back
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